Offense like a coin seems to have two sides to it. The offender side would be considered heads and the offended side would be considered tails. But like the coin tossed into a well of “ill wishes” both can take a person down to the bottom. As a matter of fact the gospel of Matthew addresses this very thing in chapter 18, verses 6, “But whoso shall offend one of these little one which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” What could be worse than this? Being thrown headlong into a fiery hell. That would be even worse and this illustration gives us a glimpse into the weight offense has both in the kingdom of God and in the enemies hands.
The millstone is an extremely heavy object used for grinding grain in ancient history particularly by the use of an oxen. But in the case of offense the enemy uses the individual as the beast of burden grinding the grain of being offended in their minds and hearts. He in turn bakes it in their hearts like bread and feeds it to as many people as possible in the form of gossip and slander. The bread of offense fed to multitudes under the cloak of caring and sharing even within the church. Jesus said in verse 7 of the gospel of Matthew in chapter 18, “Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
We have to guard against eating the bread ground from the millstone of offense when handed to us. It can come from many sources: family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, even members within the church. Jesus, is our true bread of life as we take part in time with him, in his Word while sharing what bread we have received from him with others and not the bread from the millstone of offense.